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Radical changes to Europe’s system of financial regulation are under way and with them a harmonisation of securities rules as Europe turns a corner on the drive to create a single European Securities and Markets Authority with more stringent disclosure requirements. But with not all European regulators striking the same note, the move for greater scrutiny and heightened disclosure expectations over short selling and shareholdings is making sluggish progress forward. (more…)

Sometimes the crudest calculations can be the most helpful. Despite official protestations, it is a fairly safe assumption that the permanent positions that have been announced so far at the three European Supervisory Authorities have effectively been shared out among member states, with some weighting for their importance as financial centres. If a slightly shakier assumption is entertained, namely that the three executive directors, whose job it will be to run the ESAs’ day-to-day operations, will be chosen on a similar basis (although perhaps with individual qualities and qualifications playing a more important part), it is possible to make some educated guesses about the nationalities, and maybe the identities, of those who will fill these important roles. (more…)